Michigan in the Civil War

Ness, Nina L.

Ness was a dealer in manuscript and autograph materials. This collection includes a variety of letters and documents:

Anthony, Herbert: One letter (1861) from Camp Columbia. Anthony, of Bedford, Mich., served in the 39th Illinois Infantry, Company G.

Baron, John: One letter (Dec. 12, 1864) from W. H. Hills in Plaiston, N.H., to Major R. G. Usher relating to the claim of John Baron, prisoner of war, of Company E, 17th Massachusetts Infantry.

Benjamin, John R.: One letter (Oct. 17, 1861) from camp at Annapolis. Benjamin served in the 8th Michigan Infantry, Company G.

Briggs, John H.: Four letters, one (Sept. 16, 1861) from Camp Belden, near Kendallville, Ind., and three(undated) from Schoolcraft. The name is uncertain, and may not be Briggs, and his regiment is unidentified.

----, Calvin: Calvin (surname unidentified) was a member of the 11th New Hampshire Infantry. Three letters, two (Feb. 26 and Mar. 21, 1863) from Newport News, Va., and one (Apr. 1,1865) from camp near Hancock Station, Va., which describes battles near Petersburg.

Camp, James W.: One letter to his sister from Nashville (Aug. 23, 1863) in which he spoke of the effort of General Rosecrans to order the regiment to the front, and General Granger insisting he needed the men for guard duty in the city. He told about the presentation of a "splendid" sword to Colonel Spaulding by the officers in the regiment. Camp, from Hillsdale, Mich., was in Company D, 18th Michigan Infantry (1862-1864). He died of disease at Decatur, Ala., August 4, 1864, and was buried in the National Cemetery, Corinth, Miss.

Deuel, Rhoda: One letter (July 30, 1865) from Sterling. This letter is written by two people; the first part by Frank, describes his wounding at Petersburg, Apr. 2, 1865. His surname and regiment are unidentified.

Hamlin, John A.: One letter (Oct. 21, 1864) from Harts Island, New York Harbor. Hamlin was probably a member of the 23rd U.S. Colored Troops.

----, Henry: Three letters and 1 fragment (Feb. 3-May 7, 1864) from Fort Tillinghast, near Washington, D.C. Henry's surname is unknown. He was a member of the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.

Hibbard, William: One letter (Sept. 15, 1863) from "near the Rappadan." Hibbard was probably a member of Company F, 7th Michigan Cavalry.

Hubbard, Samuel M.: Partial letter (undated) describing his part in the court-martial of Lieut. John N. Shafter and his relationships with Col. Henry C. Gilbert and Col. William R. Shafter. Hubbard served in Company B, 19th Michigan Infantry.

Laurence, George W.: One letter (Feb. 2, 1863) written to his uncle from Jackson,Tenn. It is really a discourse on the policies of the President in pursuing the war. He says: "The course pursued by the President, although under other circumstances would not only be questionable but even adverse to the principles of the Republican Party, in the present state of affairs I heartedly endorse for the very reason that the course which has been pursued by the South has been such as to forfeit to them all rights of protection whatever. And the only course that is left us, and in this rests our only hope for the restoration of our government is to push the war with the utmost vigor ..." Laurence, from Kalamazoo, Mich., was in Company F, 3rd Michigan Cavalry as quartermaster sergeant, 1861; first sergeant and second lieutenant, 1862; first lieutenant in Company C, then captain in Company G, 1864. He was mustered out, February 12, 1866.

----, Lee: One letter (June 11, 1862) from Moscow, Ky., and one fragment, probably from Moscow, Ky. Lee (surname unidentified) was a member of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry.

McGregor, John D.: One letter (July 22, 1862) from Suffolk, Va., a letter of General Joseph Hanfield to New York Governor E. D. Morgan recommending Lieut. Col. John D. McGregor of the 4th New York Infantry for promotion.

Matthews, Samuel: One letter (Sept. 7, 1861) from camp in Virginia. Matthews, from Ingham County, Mich., served in Company G, 3rd Michigan Infantry.

May, Frank W.: A letter to his mother (Nov. 30, 1861) from Fort Lyons, tells of good food, good quarters, a grand review with Lincoln, McClellan and Seward present. He thinks Alexandria, Washington and Georgetown are populated mostly by rebels. He tells of rebel fences being burned and the horses pastured in the corn fields. May, from Kalamazoo, Mich., served as chaplain in the 2nd Michigan Infantry.

Packard, Alonso: He was in Company G, 3rd Vermont Infantry. One letter (March 12,1864) was written from a camp near Brandy Station. They are on picket duty and doing, lots of drilling. He tells about a march they had been on recently. He mentions the pay and bounty he gets.